Report

ANOTHER DRAW, BUT NOT A BORE!

Silsden put the disappointment of the defeat at Northowram behind them with a fine battling display under floodlights at Farsley, twice coming from behind to secure a well earned draw.

On Farsley’s big pitch both teams settled down to try and pass the ball accurately. It was Farsley however who looked most dangerous in the early stages and they opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Kez McLoughlin found space just inside the Silsden penalty area to lob the ball over ‘keeper Sam Adey into the back of the net.  This gave the momentum to the home team as they pushed forward in their search for further goals.  Farsley’s speedy left winger almost put them two up when she went on a mazy run from the halfway line but after rounding Adey she shot into the side netting.  Silsden then started to creep back into the game and strikers Harriet Pickles and Nicola Leng were causing the home defence problems with their speed and directness.  They should have equalised when Leng was put through on goal by Selina Steventon but her shot was straight into the hands of the home ‘keeper.  It wasn’t long after however when they got their reward when Pickles found space on the right and her cross cum shot sailed over the keeper into the corner of the net.

Silsden were now forcing Farsley on the back foot urged on by the midfield foursome of Steventon, Vicky Ellis, Vicky Williamson and Christina Aston. They forced several corners which caused a degree of panic in the home defence and from one Nic Frankland headed just over the bar.  Leng almost atoned for her earlier miss but her shot was deflected narrowly wide, and Steventon’s shot from the corner of the penalty area also went just wide.

The second half started with Farsley in the ascendancy and they took the lead when McLoughlin latched on to a good pass to steer the ball wide of Adey for a well taken goal.  The home team were now pushing forward in an attempt to secure the points and two other efforts went narrowly wide.  Silsden’s back four of Dee Rutherford, Kate Perfect, Katie Westaway, ably marshalled by Frankland were now being stretched but remained solid with some tit-for-tat no nonsense defending.  As the half wore on Silsden again forced themselves back into the game and won yet more corners.  With 15 minutes remaining Pickles then broke through on the left and her shot was well saved by the home keeper resulting in yet another corner.  Silsden gained reward for their endeavour when Steventon swung the ball in to the edge of the six yard box where sub Gemma Brierley headed home for her first goal to make the game all square.  Leng almost stole it for the visitors when she latched on to high ball from Ellis but her volley from just inside the area was parried by the ‘keeper and cleared by a defender before the Silsden striker could follow up.

Yet another encounter with Farsley resulting in an enthralling, close game, and both team’s coaches must have been well satisfied with their performances.

Silsden have now just one game remaining, at home to newly crowned league champions Tingley when hopefully, they will sign off with an overdue win, their last league victory being the 5-1 drubbing of relegated Republica back in February.

report submittted by Arthur Leng

Photos

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